Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika arrived in Spain on Monday for two days of talks aimed at expanding political and economic relations between the two countries.

He was welcomed by Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio and is expected to hold talks later with King Juan Carlos as well as Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, according to AFP. Bouteflika is making the first visit to Madrid by an Algerian president since Chadli Menjedid came in 1985.